Celâleddin es-Suyutî and his historiography

This study aims to examine the life and particularly the historiographical approach of Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (1445-1505), a versatile scholar who holds a significant place in Islamic intellectual history. The thesis covers Suyuti's biography, the political, social, and economic structure of the Mamluk society in which he lived, and his approach to the science of history. The study seeks to thoroughly analyze Suyuti's works on history, revealing his unique historiographical methods and contributions to Islamic historical writing. A qualitative research method was adopted for this study, with primary sources including Suyuti's own works and autobiography, and secondary sources comprising other relevant academic studies. The findings of the thesis demonstrate that Suyuti was not only a scholar of religious sciences such as Hadith and Tafsir but also an important historian. His historical works are written with a chronological approach, giving ample space to the period of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. It was determined that Suyuti approached narrations critically and synthesized various sources to obtain information. Furthermore, it was identified that textual evidence (nusus) played a central role in his understanding of history, and he approached events within the framework of his own values. In conclusion, the thesis comprehensively evaluates Suyuti's role in understanding Islamic civilization, his concept of history, and his place in historical writing. It is concluded that his works reflect the social and cultural structure of his era and remain among the fundamental sources that retain their value today. This study makes a significant contribution to the field by filling a gap in the research on Suyuti's historiography.